Detailed insight on Burnley’s new No.1
James Trafford was born in Cockermouth and grew up in the nearby Cumbrian village of Greysouthen.
As a child, Trafford played for Cockermouth and Carlisle United before signing for Manchester City in 2015 at 12-years-old.
The goalkeeper rose through the academy ranks at City before becoming a regular for both the U18s and U23s set-up.
On the international front, Trafford made his England U17s debut in March 2018 against Croatia in which he saved a penalty and kept a clean sheet, before going on to represent both the Three Lions’ U18s and U19s squads whilst progressing in the City academy.
He then penned his first professional contract at the Etihad ahead of the 2020/21 season and went on to feature for City in the Football League Trophy twice that same season and for England’s U20’s for the first time in September.
The Cumbrian was also named on the bench for Pep Guardiola’s side six times during that same campaign, including the 2-1 victory over PSG in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
Trafford made his first loan move to gain first team experience the following summer after signing for Sky Bet League One side Accrington Stanley, where he featured 11 times for Stanley up until January 2022.
The New Year saw Trafford cut his loan spell short at the Wham Stadium and sign for Bolton Wanderers on a loan deal until the end of the season.
The shot-stopper kept four clean sheets in his first four games as a White, the first to ever do so at Bolton, before going on to play 22 times for Ian Evatt’s side in League One.
Following a successful six-month loan spell with the Wanderers, Trafford was called up to England’s U21 side in May 2022 where he made his debut in a 5-0 win against Kosovo.
Things got better for the goalkeeper, as Trafford was rewarded with a five-year contract with Man City before re-joining Bolton on a season-long loan for the 2022/23 campaign.
Last season proved to be another successful one for the 6ft 6in keeper’ as Trafford played 52 times in all competitions for the Whites, lifting the Football League Trophy at Wembley and winning the club’s Young Player of the Year award.
He was then selected for England’s U21 squad for the UEFA European Championships this summer where Trafford played all six matches, kept six clean sheets and made a miraculous stoppage time penalty save against Spain in the final to win it for Lee Carsley’s side.
